NameMyPdf

Automatically rename PDF files with year, author, title retrieved from DOI database

Download Support NameMyPdf View on GitHub

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Demo

There is also a longer demo.

✨ Features

Universal Binary

Native support for both Intel and Apple Silicon Macs

**Drag & Drop or Open-With **

Simple interface - just drag PDF files onto the app icon or select and choose “open-with”

Command Line

Optional CLI tool for terminal users

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🚀 Quick Start

1. Download the latest .dmg file from Download Page
2. Install by dragging NameMyPdf.app to your Applications folder
3. Allow Access App is not signed by Apple so you have to start it and “Open Anyway” from System “Security” (scroll to bottom) See Download Page for details
4. Edit the Configuration The first time, you’ll be presented with the configuration file in TextEdit. You can adjust the filename to your liking.
5. Use select files in the Finder and choose “open with … NameMyPdf”

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📖 How It Works

NameMyPdf scans your PDF files for DOI (Digital Object Identifier) information, queries the CrossRef API for metadata, and renames your files in a clean, standardized format.

Before:

downloaded-paper.pdf
arxiv-1234.5678v2.pdf

After:

Smith 2023 - Machine Learning Applications.pdf
Johnson 2024 - Neural Network Architecture.pdf

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🎯 Perfect For

• 📚 Academic researchers managing paper collections
• 🎓 Graduate students organizing literature reviews
• 👨‍🏫 Professors maintaining reference libraries
• 📝 Anyone who reads lots of academic PDFs

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💻 System Requirements

• macOS 10.11 (El Capitan) or later
• No additional software required - all tools are bundled!

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🆓 Open Source

NameMyPdf is open source software. Contributions welcome!

View Source Code →